Listen to the mustn'ts child.Listen to the don'ts.Listen to the shouldn't haves, the impossibles, the won'ts.Listen to the never haves, then listen close to me.Anything can happen child.Anything can be.

I will not play at tug o' war.I'd rather play at hug o' war,Where everyone hugsInstead of tugs,Where everyone gigglesAnd rolls on the rug,Where everyone kisses,And everyone grins,And everyone cuddles,And everyone wins.

I asked the zebra,Are you black with white strips?Or white with black strips?And the zebra asked me,Are you good with bad habits?Or are you bad with good habits?Are you noisy with quiet times?Or are you quiet with noisy times?Are you happy with sad days?Or are you sad with happy days?Are you neat with some sloppy ways?Or are you sloppy with some neat ways?And on and on and on and onAnd on and on he went.I'll never ask a zebraAbout stripesAgain.

Said the little boy, Sometimes I drop my spoon.Said the little old man, I do that too.The little boy whispered, I wet my pants.I do too, laughed the old man.Said the little boy, I often cry.The old man nodded. So do I.But worst of all, said the boy, it seemsGrown-ups don't pay attention to me.And he felt the warmth of a wrinkled old hand.I know what you mean, said the little old man.